Golf swing position trainer for training a golfer to swing a golf club correctly

ABSTRACT

A golf swing position trainer adapted to train a golfer to swing a golf club correctly, with this device being constructed of rigid material. A handle at one end enables the golfer to grasp the position trainer with both hands and move it in the general manner of a golf club. The handle portion together with an intermediate leg portion form an arcuately shaped portion, with a relatively small U-shaped portion in effect forming a continuation of the intermediate leg portion. The relatively small U-shaped portion is disposed in an orthogonal relationship with the plane of the arcuately shaped portion. A positioning reference in effect forms a continuation of the relatively small U-shaped portion, with this positioning reference pointing away from the handle portion and serving to indicate to the golfer at one part of the swing, the line of sight to the target.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] In the past, a number of devices have been proposed for use bygolfers, to aid them in developing and improving their swings.Unfortunately, many of the prior art devices concerned with the swing ofthe club have been expensive to purchase and/or difficult to use. As aconsequence, these devices have not gained much favor with a largenumber of golfers.

[0002] The Strahan U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,346 entitled “GOLF SWING TRAININGDEVICE” teaches the use of weighted components on a shaft used forhelping a golfer develop his swing. Strahan mentions that it is the goalof his device to provide a golf swing training device for teaching agolfer to perfect an inside-out swing of a golf club, but his devicebears little relation to the present invention.

[0003] The Richards U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,111 entitled “GOLF SWINGSIMULATOR DEVICE” is an elaborate device that would be expensive toproduce and difficult to use. This patent would solve few of theproblems with golf swing that are solved by the use of the instantinvention.

[0004] The Olsen GOLF SWING TRAINING CLUB, U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,147, hasa weighted head but fails to deal with the important matter of thepositioning of the golfer's hands relative to his torso.

[0005] The DeBack U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,481 entitled “GOLF SWING MUSCLESTRENGTHENER AND SWING DEVELOPER DEVICE” is another instance of the useof weights for developing a golfer's swing. However, only a few golferswould be able to use such heavy weights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In designing our novel golf swing position trainer, we weremindful of the fact that many golfers tend to develop golf swings thatare inconsistent with the ball being hit squarely, and having it travelin the expected direction. To this end we have designed a novel devicedesigned to teach the golfer, the fundamentals of the golf swing. Ourgolf swing position trainer is advantageously configured to in effectforce the golfer to maintain his or her hands, arms, shoulders and hipsin a desirable and effective relationship during the swing.

[0007] Our novel device is manifestly intended for use by males as wellas females, and for left handed golfers as well as right handed golfers,but for the purpose of simplifying the description, we intend, whenusing the personal pronouns his or him, to include the fact that thegolfer may be female, where the pronouns hers or her would normallyapply. Also, it will later be seen that we have illustrated our noveldevice in use by a right handed golfer inasmuch as something more than85% of the world's population is believed to be right handed. Quiteobviously, our device will manifestly be marketed for left handed aswell as right handed golfers, and the descriptive portions appearingherein that specifically mention right handed golfers are clearly notintended to preclude the use of a suitably configured version of ourinvention by a left handed golfer.

[0008] The golf swing position trainer we have developed is preferablyconstructed of a single piece of stiff material, that has beenconfigured into a compound curvature designed to provide vision and feelreferences for enabling the golfer to achieve the correct golf swingposition movement and ultimately improve his golf swing.

[0009] More specifically, our golf swing position trainer has a handleportion attached at a first end of the device, with a positioningreference located at the other end of the device. The handle portion isconfigured to cause the golfer to hold the position trainer in theappropriate manner for the position trainer to be moved with both handsin the general manner of a golf club. The handle portion represents acomponent of a relatively large U-shaped or arcuately-shaped portion ofthe position trainer, with an intermediate leg portion of the positiontrainer representing another part of the relatively large U-shapedportion. The intermediate leg portion resides in approximately the sameplane as the handle portion and is disposed somewhat less than 180° awayfrom the handle portion.

[0010] A second, relatively small U-shaped portion of the positiontrainer in effect forms a continuation of the intermediate leg portion,with a smooth curve being formed at the location where these portionsjoin. The second, relatively small U-shaped portion is disposed in aplane residing in approximately an orthogonal relationship with theplane of the relatively large U-shaped portion. It is a part of therelatively small U-shaped portion that is to be maintained by the golferagainst the biceps of one of his arms during a significant part of hisswing, thus assuring the golfer's hands, wrists, arms and shouldersbeing maintained at a proper relationship to the chest portion of thegolfer.

[0011] The second end of the position trainer represents the previouslymentioned positioning reference, which is relatively short and in effectforms a continuation of the relatively small U-shaped portion. Thepositioning reference is disposed at approximately a 45° angle to theplane of the relatively small U-shaped portion and points generally awayfrom the handle portion. The positioning reference provides importantvisual as well as feel references to the golfer, and at one part of theswing of the position trainer, the positioning reference indicates tothe golfer, the line of sight to the target.

[0012] It is thus to be seen that we have provided a readilytransportable position trainer device effective in causing the golfer tomaintain the club handle in the appropriate relationship to his or herupper body throughout the swing of the club.

[0013] It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide agolf swing position trainer that is uncomplicated, affordable, easy toutilize, and highly effective in helping a beginning or intermediategolfer develop a highly effective swing.

[0014] It is another object of this invention to provide a golf swingposition trainer configured into a compound curvature providing visionand feel references to enable the golfer to achieve the correct golfswing position movement and ultimately improve his golf swing.

[0015] It is still another object of this invention to provide a golfswing position trainer that incorporates positive transfer training, orin other words, enables highly effective motor skill learning.

[0016] It is yet still another object of our invention to provide anovel device that, if used for approximately ten minutes per day, canhelp the golfer achieve effective motor skill learning of the ideal golfswing.

[0017] It is yet still another object of this invention to provide agolf swing position trainer of single piece, rigid construction that isconfigured to maintain a desirable relationship with the golfer's bicepsduring a portion of the swing, and thus assure the hands of the golferbeing maintained at a desired distance from his chest during the swing,and his wrists, arms and shoulders in a highly desirable and effectiverelationship without the extended arm being under tension.

[0018] These and other objects, features and advantages will become moreapparent as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of our golf swing position trainer,showing the relative positions of the several significant components;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view to a larger scale of the upperportion of our golf swing position trainer, clearly showing therelationship of the positioning reference relative to the member bywhich it is supported;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a view showing how the positioning reference portion ofour device is brought into contact with the biceps muscles of the golferduring the upward part of the backswing;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a perspective view generally along the lines of FIG. 1,but revealing that the plane of the large U-shaped portion in which thehandle is disposed, is in an orthogonal relationship to the plane of therelatively small U-shaped portion; and

[0023]FIGS. 5 through 10 are relatively small views illustrating the sixsteps that characterize a golfer's use of our device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] A golf swing position trainer in accordance with this inventionis adapted to train a golfer to swing a golf club correctly, with anexemplary version of our invention being illustrated in FIG. 1. Ourposition trainer 10 is constructed essentially of a single piece ofrigid material, and is configured to have first and second ends. Forexample, we may use an aluminum rod ½″ in diameter in the constructionof our novel device, but we obviously are not to be limited to this.

[0025] An important ancillary portion of our device is represented byhandle portion 12, which is affixed over the first end of our device.The handle portion is typically molded of non-metallic material, such asindustrial grade plastic. The handle portion 12 is carefully configuredto enable the golfer to grasp the handle portion in a particularrelationship with respect to the remaining portion of the swing positiontrainer. Upon the handle being grasped correctly with both hands, theposition trainer can be moved in the general manner of a golf club.

[0026] It is to be seen from FIG. 1 that the handle portion 12 isaffixed to a component of a relatively large U-shaped orarcuately-shaped portion 14 of the position trainer, with anintermediate leg portion 16 of the position trainer representing anotherimportant part of the relatively large U-shaped portion 14. Theintermediate leg portion 16 resides in approximately the same plane asthe handle portion 12 and is disposed somewhat less than 180° away fromthe handle portion 12. This plane in which the handle portion 12 and theintermediate leg portion 16 reside is shown as plane 20 in FIG. 4.

[0027] From FIG. 1 it will also be seen that a second, relatively smallU-shaped portion 22 of our position trainer in effect forms acontinuation of the intermediate leg portion 16. It is important to notethat the relatively small U-shaped portion 22 is disposed in a plane 24that resides in an orthogonal relationship to the plane 20 in which thelarge U-shaped member 14 is disposed; note FIG. 4. As clearly seen inFIG. 2, a smooth curve 26 is formed at the location where the twoU-shaped portions 14 and 22 join.

[0028] As will be noted from FIG. 1, the curve 26 representing thejuncture of the two U-shaped portions is spaced a distance D from theend 13 of the handle 12, with this distance being between 12″ and 22″,preferably 17¼″. It is to be noted that the distance D is important forenabling the golfer to achieve proper wrist set and, for a right handedgolfer, left arm extension achieved without tension. Our novel GolfSwing position Trainer can be made in a range of sizes, with devicesconstructed to have a relative small dimension D being intended for useby a juvenile or a petite lady. Devices configured to have a largerdimension D are intended for use by adult males.

[0029] It is to be understood that if the golfer's extended arm is bentexcessively, this will cause an early release or casting of the clubhead, which in turn causes a slice. None of the known prior art isdesigned to prevent the excessive bending of the extended arm, whicherror we believe to be the primary cause of the slicing of a golf ballby a golfer.

[0030] What may be regarded as the base portion 28 of the relativelysmall U-shaped member 22 is preferably approximately 5″ in length, withthe base portion 28 blending into a smooth curve 30 that is connected toa short leg 32. The short leg 32 represents what may be regarded as theremaining part of the relatively small U-shaped portion 22, with thecurved end portion 34 of the leg 32 serving as the support member forthe positioning reference 36; note FIG. 2 in particular. The short legmay be approximately 4½″ in length, and the positioning reference may be5″ in length, but we obviously are not to be limited to thesedimensions.

[0031] The positioning reference 36 is of course the second end of ournovel position trainer, with the positioning reference being seen inFIGS. 1 and 2 to be relatively short and in effect forming acontinuation of the relatively small U-shaped portion 22. Thepositioning reference 36 forms a significant portion of our device andis disposed at approximately a 450 angle to the plane 24 of therelatively small U-shaped portion 22 (note FIG. 4), and points generallyaway from the handle portion 12. The positioning reference 36 serves, atone part of the swing of the position trainer, to indicate the line ofsight to the target, and at other times this important member serves asa feel reference greatly aiding the golfer in his swing.

[0032] It is to be noted from FIG. 3 that the short leg 32 is in contactwith the biceps of the right arm, and the positioning reference 36 is incontact with the outer portion of the upper arm of a right handed golferwhen the position trainer has been moved by the golfer into an upperpart of his backswing.

[0033] With reference now to related FIGS. 5 through 10, it will be seenthat FIG. 5 may be regarded as representing Step 1 of the utilization bya golfer of our device. As part of Step 1, the golfer stands in thesetup or address position, with his feet shoulder width apart, his kneeslocked. The golfer should be bent at his hips, pushing his buttocks outwhile keeping the back straight.

[0034] At this time the golfer should make sure that the positioningreference 36 is at a 45° angle to the line of sight to the target,called the target line. Because of the provision of our novelpositioning reference, the golfer is aided in positioning his wrists inthe proper position for the start of the golf swing. Before commencingthe swing the golfer unlocks his knees and places his hands in acentered relationship to his body.

[0035] Turning now to FIG. 6, it is to be understood that in this figureStep 2, known as the take away, is depicted. The take away is started bythe golfer rotating his upper body until the positioning reference isparallel to the target line as viewed by the golfer, using hisperipheral vision. This alignment of the positioning reference with thetarget line assures what a golfer would describe as a perfect on planetake away.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 7, representing Step 3, the golfercontinues to rotate his upper body in the backswing direction whilehinging his wrists upward. For a right handed golfer, his right elbow isbent until the short leg 32 rests against the golfer's right biceps, andthe positioning reference 36 resides close by, against an outer portionof the golfer's arm. Step 3 is a very important step in that the use ofour novel device has caused the right handed golfer to extend his leftarm without tension and fully hinge his wrists. A full width turn hasbeen achieved.

[0037] With reference to FIG. 8, representing Step 4, the golfer hasbeen maintaining the short leg 32 and the positioning reference incontact with the upper portion of his arm, and at this time he startsthe downswing, with the lower body moving toward the target and the armslowering to achieve the power slot. At this moment the left arm is at a45° angle to the ground, and at this time the maximum power is deliveredfrom the golf swing.

[0038] With regard to FIG. 9, representing Step 5, the release, thepositioning reference has moved far away from the right biceps musclesand past the left thigh until the positioning reference is at a 90°angle to the target line, guaranteeing a full release.

[0039] With regard to FIG. 10, representing Step 6, the finish, theupper body has rotated to the left of the target, allowing the rightfoot to come up onto the big toe. While hinging his wrists up, the leftelbow is bent, bringing the positioning reference over the leftshoulder, resting it and the support member 32 on the upper left back toa completely balanced full finish.

[0040] It is to be noted that as a consequence of the use of rigidmaterial in the construction of our position trainer, the handle portionof our device and consequentially the golfer's hands will remain in adesirable relationship to the golfer's upper body throughout the golfswing.

[0041] It will now be apparent that we have designed a Golf SwingPosition Trainer that is inexpensive and relatively easy to use, yetenabling positive transfer training, or in other words, our deviceadvantageously makes highly effective motor skill learning readilypossible. We have found that if a golfer practices with our novel devicefor approximately ten minutes per day, this will help him achieveeffective motor skill learning of the ideal golf swing.

[0042] Viewing our invention from a slightly different perspective, ourdevice is responsible for training the golf club to react to themovement of the body rather than the body reacting to the movement ofthe golf club.

We claim:
 1. A golf swing position trainer adapted to train a golfer to swing a golf club correctly, said position trainer being constructed of rigid material and configured to have a handle portion at one end, enabling the golfer to grasp the handle portion and move the position trainer with both hands in the general manner of a golf club, the part of said position trainer having the handle portion being a component of an arcuately shaped portion, with an intermediate leg portion of said position trainer representing another part of said arcuately shaped portion, a relatively small U-shaped portion in effect forming a continuation of said intermediate leg portion, with said relatively small U-shaped portion disposed in a plane residing in approximately an orthogonal relationship with the plane of said arcuately shaped portion, and a positioning reference portion of said position trainer, said positioning reference being relatively short and in effect forming a continuation of said relatively small U-shaped portion, said positioning reference forming the opposite end of said position trainer with regard to said handle portion, and pointing generally away from said handle portion, said positioning reference serving to indicate to the golfer at one part of the swing of said position trainer, the line of sight to the target.
 2. A golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 1 in which said positioning reference is disposed at approximately a 45° angle to the plane of said relatively small U-shaped portion.
 3. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 1 wherein said handle portion is configured to closely receive the hands of the golfer, so as to uniquely determine the attitude that the position trainer is grasped and moved by the golfer.
 4. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 3 in which said relatively small U-shaped portion is disposed in an uppermost position when the golfer is holding said position trainer at the bottom of its swing.
 5. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 1 in which one part of said relatively small U-shaped portion is adapted to contact the biceps of one arm of the golfer when said position trainer has been moved by the golfer into an upper part of his backswing.
 6. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 1 in which as a consequence of the rigid material utilized in the construction of said position trainer, said handle portion will remain in a desirable, properly spaced relationship to the golfer's upper body throughout the golf swing.
 7. A golf swing position trainer adapted to train a golfer to swing a golf club correctly, said position trainer being constructed essentially of a single piece of rigid material, said position trainer configured to have a handle portion at one end, enabling the golfer to grasp the handle portion and move the position trainer with both hands in the general manner of a golf club, the part of said position trainer having the handle portion being a component of a relatively large U-shaped portion, with an intermediate leg portion of said position trainer representing another part of the relatively large U-shaped portion, said intermediate leg portion residing in approximately the same plane as said handle portion and disposed approximately 180° away from said handle portion, a second, relatively small U-shaped portion in effect forming a continuation of said intermediate leg portion, with said second, relatively small U-shaped portion disposed in a plane residing in approximately an orthogonal relationship with the plane of said relatively large U-shaped portion, and a positioning reference portion of said position trainer, said positioning reference being relatively short and in effect forming a continuation of said relatively small U-shaped portion, said positioning reference being disposed at approximately a 45° angle to the plane of said relatively small U-shaped portion, said positioning reference forming the opposite end of said position trainer with regard to said handle portion, and pointing away from said handle portion, said positioning reference serving to indicate to the golfer at one part of the swing of said position trainer, the line of sight to the target.
 8. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 7 wherein said handle portion is configured to closely receive the hands of the golfer, so as to uniquely determine the attitude that the position trainer is moved by the golfer.
 9. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 7 in which one part of said relatively small U-shaped portion is adapted to contact the biceps of one arm of the golfer when said position trainer has been moved by the golfer into an upper part of his backswing.
 10. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 7 in which said relatively small U-shaped portion is uppermost when the golfer is holding the position trainer at the bottom of its swing.
 11. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 7 in which as a consequence of the rigid material utilized in the construction of said position trainer, said handle portion will remain in a desirable, properly spaced relationship to the golfer's upper body throughout the golf swing.
 12. A golf swing position trainer adapted to train a golfer to swing a golf club correctly, said position trainer being constructed essentially of a single piece of rigid material, said position trainer configured to have first and second ends, with a handle portion formed at said first end, with said handle portion enabling the golfer to grasp the handle portion and move the position trainer with both hands in the general manner of a golf club, said handle portion representing a component of a relatively large U-shaped portion of said position trainer, with an intermediate leg portion of said position trainer representing another part of the relatively large U-shaped portion, said intermediate leg portion residing in approximately the same plane as said handle portion and disposed approximately 180° away from said handle portion, a second, relatively small U-shaped portion in effect forming a continuation of said intermediate leg portion, with said second, relatively small U-shaped portion disposed in a plane residing in approximately an orthogonal relationship with the plane of said relatively large U-shaped portion, said second end of said position trainer representing a positioning reference, said positioning reference being relatively short and in effect forming a continuation of said relatively small U-shaped portion, said positioning reference being disposed at approximately a 45° angle to the plane of said relatively small U-shaped portion and pointing away from said handle portion, said positioning reference serving, at one part of the swing of said position trainer, to indicate to the golfer, the line of sight to the target, and providing a feel reference to the golfer at another part of the swing.
 13. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 12 in which one part of said relatively small U-shaped portion is adapted to contact the biceps of one arm of the golfer when said position trainer has been moved by the golfer into an upper part of his backswing.
 14. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 12 in which said relatively small U-shaped portion is uppermost when the golfer is holding the position trainer at the bottom of its swing.
 15. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 12 wherein said handle portion is configured to closely receive the hands of the golfer, so as to uniquely determine the attitude that the position trainer is moved by the golfer.
 16. The golf swing position trainer as recited in claim 12 in which as a consequence of the rigid material utilized in the construction of said position trainer, said handle portion will remain in a desirable, properly spaced relationship to the golfer's upper body throughout the golf swing. 